Future uncertain for Truex

ben white

Published: Tuesday, September 24, 2013 at 12:30 a.m.

Last Modified: Monday, September 23, 2013 at 11:48 p.m.

It's understandable if Martin Truex Jr. feels confusion and frustrated concerning his present role as driver for Michael Waltrip Racing. The landscape of his career has changed dramatically in the past few weeks over something he seemingly knew nothing about.

He is presently in the first season of a new three-year contract with MWR that runs through 2015. NAPA Auto Parts decided to pull its sponsorship at the end of the year over the Chase debacle involving MWR at Richmond Sept. 7. At race's end, Truex Jr. brought his blue and yellow Toyota to a stop on pit road with no clue what had transpired.

Truex Jr. was on top of the world when he spoke to the media after his win at Sonoma, Calif. in June. His future looked very bright with talk of winning a championship a real possibility.

Then at Richmond — the race that settles the 12-driver Chase roster each season — MWR teammate Clint Bowyer spun and was strongly accused of doing so intentionally. It was Brian Vickers' move that caused the fines from NASCAR. He went to pit road as ordered and sent Truex Jr. up one position. NASCAR deemed the move as manipulating the race's outcome and fined the organization $300,000. They also suspended general manager Ty Norris indefinitely and placed all three of the operation's crew chiefs on probation.

Truex Jr. initially made the Chase with a wild card spot, but NASCAR's ruling 48 hours later bumped him out of the top-12 to 17th following a 50-point penalty. Ryan Newman was given the 12th spot as the next eligible driver.

That longstanding business arrangement will end after the final race at Homestead-Miami Speedway in November, costing Waltrip and co-owner Rob Kauffman many millions in sponsorship dollars.

Truex Jr. had reason to worry about his future plans.

"It's too early to tell to be honest with you," Truex Jr. said at New Hampshire Sunday. "I wish I knew and I wish I could say, but a lot of circumstances have to play out. It's so late in the game and late in the season. People already know what they're doing next year — this is definitely not the time of year you want to find out that you really don't have a ride next year, so to speak. I don't know, it's going to be tough, but we'll have to deal with it and hopefully we'll figure it out."

When asked if he wanted to remain at Michael Waltrip Racing at New Hampshire, Truex Jr. didn't completely answer the question. It was as if the door to depart was being left open.

"I really enjoyed my last four years at MWR (Michael Waltrip Racing) and I feel like we're getting to where we wanted to be when we started four years ago," Truex Jr. said. "This is obviously going to set us back, but I would love to be there. There are no guarantees right now — it just depends on how everything goes down."

Truex Jr. didn't rule out joining NAPA at another team should they elect to continue sponsorship plans in NASCAR. Truex Jr. doesn't seem to have been a part of the highly questionable actions others at MWR put into motion.

"We do have a great relationship and again, this has all happened so fast — obviously, they're (NAPA) going to need a little time for the dust to settle and figure out what they're next move is. Just have to wait," Truex Jr. said. "I guess it's an option, yeah. I feel like I've represented them well and I know they're happy with the job I've done on and off the race track. We'll just see where that leads."

Waltrip told Truex Jr. he could pursue other teams should an owner be interested in hiring him. Barney Visser, owner of the No. 78 Furniture Row team based in Denver, CO., may be one of them. Visser will lose Kurt Busch to join Stewart Haas Racing in 2014, leaving the No. 78 Chevrolet open. Team general manager Joe Garone said he is interested in having Truex, Jr. in their Chevrolets.

Truex Jr. regrets what happened at Richmond but realizes he must move on with Waltrip or another team.

"Decisions were made in the heat of battle," Truex Jr. said. "Maybe they were bad. Obviously, they were wrong. And now we have to deal with the consequences. That's all I'm trying to do. We can't go back in time and undo anything."

<p>It's understandable if Martin Truex Jr. feels confusion and frustrated concerning his present role as driver for Michael Waltrip Racing. The landscape of his career has changed dramatically in the past few weeks over something he seemingly knew nothing about. </p><p>He is presently in the first season of a new three-year contract with MWR that runs through 2015. NAPA Auto Parts decided to pull its sponsorship at the end of the year over the Chase debacle involving MWR at Richmond Sept. 7. At race's end, Truex Jr. brought his blue and yellow Toyota to a stop on pit road with no clue what had transpired. </p><p>Truex Jr. was on top of the world when he spoke to the media after his win at Sonoma, Calif. in June. His future looked very bright with talk of winning a championship a real possibility. </p><p>Then at Richmond — the race that settles the 12-driver Chase roster each season — MWR teammate Clint Bowyer spun and was strongly accused of doing so intentionally. It was Brian Vickers' move that caused the fines from NASCAR. He went to pit road as ordered and sent Truex Jr. up one position. NASCAR deemed the move as manipulating the race's outcome and fined the organization $300,000. They also suspended general manager Ty Norris indefinitely and placed all three of the operation's crew chiefs on probation.</p><p>Truex Jr. initially made the Chase with a wild card spot, but NASCAR's ruling 48 hours later bumped him out of the top-12 to 17th following a 50-point penalty. Ryan Newman was given the 12th spot as the next eligible driver. </p><p>That longstanding business arrangement will end after the final race at Homestead-Miami Speedway in November, costing Waltrip and co-owner Rob Kauffman many millions in sponsorship dollars. </p><p>Truex Jr. had reason to worry about his future plans. </p><p>"It's too early to tell to be honest with you," Truex Jr. said at New Hampshire Sunday. "I wish I knew and I wish I could say, but a lot of circumstances have to play out. It's so late in the game and late in the season. People already know what they're doing next year — this is definitely not the time of year you want to find out that you really don't have a ride next year, so to speak. I don't know, it's going to be tough, but we'll have to deal with it and hopefully we'll figure it out."</p><p>When asked if he wanted to remain at Michael Waltrip Racing at New Hampshire, Truex Jr. didn't completely answer the question. It was as if the door to depart was being left open. </p><p>"I really enjoyed my last four years at MWR (Michael Waltrip Racing) and I feel like we're getting to where we wanted to be when we started four years ago," Truex Jr. said. "This is obviously going to set us back, but I would love to be there. There are no guarantees right now — it just depends on how everything goes down."</p><p>Truex Jr. didn't rule out joining NAPA at another team should they elect to continue sponsorship plans in NASCAR. Truex Jr. doesn't seem to have been a part of the highly questionable actions others at MWR put into motion. </p><p>"We do have a great relationship and again, this has all happened so fast — obviously, they're (NAPA) going to need a little time for the dust to settle and figure out what they're next move is. Just have to wait," Truex Jr. said. "I guess it's an option, yeah. I feel like I've represented them well and I know they're happy with the job I've done on and off the race track. We'll just see where that leads."</p><p>Waltrip told Truex Jr. he could pursue other teams should an owner be interested in hiring him. Barney Visser, owner of the No. 78 Furniture Row team based in Denver, CO., may be one of them. Visser will lose Kurt Busch to join Stewart Haas Racing in 2014, leaving the No. 78 Chevrolet open. Team general manager Joe Garone said he is interested in having Truex, Jr. in their Chevrolets. </p><p>Truex Jr. regrets what happened at Richmond but realizes he must move on with Waltrip or another team. </p><p>"Decisions were made in the heat of battle," Truex Jr. said. "Maybe they were bad. Obviously, they were wrong. And now we have to deal with the consequences. That's all I'm trying to do. We can't go back in time and undo anything."</p><p>Ben White is a motorsports columnist for The Dispatch.</p>